Deenie

A seventh-grader with a picture-perfect future as a model mapped out by her mother finds her world upended by a scoliosis diagnosis and the rigid, uncomfortable back brace she must wear. Judy Blume masterfully captures the brutal social landscape of middle school, where Deenie's sudden physical difference makes her a target for stares and whispers, forcing her to question the identity and value she had always derived from her appearance.

Blume’s signature honesty about the awkwardness of adolescence—from changing bodies to confusing crushes—shines here, but the novel’s enduring power lies in its profound exploration of self-worth beyond the superficial. Teen readers navigating their own insecurities will find a timeless and deeply relatable companion in Deenie as she learns to see the person she is, brace and all, is far stronger than the model she was supposed to be.